Flood report calls for 'urgent and fundamental' change
Flood defences need an "urgent" upgrade if Britain is to avoid devastating deluges in the future, an independent review has found.Sir Michael Pitt, who released the results of his investigation into flooding in the UK, also says that these changes must be "fundamental".The report comes in the wake of the devastating floods which hit England in June and July last year, which cost 13 people their lives.In addition, insurers were forced to pay out around £3 billion in home insurance and car insurance claims, providers have claimed.Sir Michael also recommends that local councils should improve their maintenance of drainage ditches under their control, and that "secretive" utility companies protect sensitive sites such as electricity substations to a greater degree than they currently do.Speaking to the BBC, the report author added: "Construction in flood-risk areas should be the absolute exception. I think it is very important that people purchasing houses are aware of the risks they are taking."
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